Bridge signal



J. GROSS BRIDGE SIGNAL June 17 1924.

Filed Dec. '7, 1923 .Jbsepb Gross.

Patented June 17, 1924.

JOSEPH GROS$, 01: DENVER, COLOBAIDQ.

BRIDGE SIGNAL.

Application filed liecember 7, 1928. Serial No. 679,157.

To, all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH GRoss,-a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, the city and county of Denver, and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridge Signals; and

I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form. a part of this specification.

This invention'relates to'signals for railways and has special reference to a signal intended primarily for use in connection with railway bridges, to set a danger signal if the water in the stream should rise above a certain level or if the bridge should be destroyed by fire.

In many parts of our country the railways cross streams of various sorts. Some of these are mere rivulets and even dry ditches for the most part of the year, but in time of storm these very often become raging torrents. It has frequently happened that bridges have been washed away or so badly damaged by floods that the train would fall 1 through when it entered upon the bridge. As the bridges have not been provided with any special signaling means, the engineer has had no warning and in several instances has driven the train onto the bridge only to have it fall through and into the'river bed.

Instances have also occurred 2 in which bridges have been destroyed by fire, leaving the rails suspended across the stream in such a manner that the block signal, which would become operative if the rail had been broken, did not operate; k

It is the object of this invention to produce a simple and inexpensive mechanism that may be applied'to any existing bridge and which shall be so constructed that it will cause a semaphore to move to danger position whenever the water in the stream rises to a predetermined level, and which will also set the signal to danger if the bridge is damaged by fire. My signal is so constructed that after it has once been set it cannot be cleared except by a person authorized to do so and who is provided with special keys for this purpose.

My apparatus, briefly described, consists of a pendulum that is pivotally connected to the upper side of the bridge andextends down below the bridge structure to a'point somewhat below the danger level of the water in the stream. When the Water rises above the level of thelowerend of the pendulum, the latter will be moved out of plumb and will open an electric circuit to a semaphore, thereby causing the latter to move to danger or stop position. "A eight is also suspended from a combustible creosoted rope that extends the entire length of the 1 bridge. This weight is connected to the pendulum by means of a steel cable which runs over a pulley'in such a manner that when therope breaks, as when the bridge is on fire, the weight will fall and pullfthe pendulum out of plumb, thereby operating the semaphore. I

In order better and more clearlyto describe my invention, I shall have reference to the accompanying drawing in which one embodiment of my invention is shown, and in which: f

Fig. l'is a perspective view of a portion of a bridge showing my improved signal in place thereon; c

Fig. 2 is a partial section takenon line 2+2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the parts shown in Fig. 2 and is designed to'show more particularly the mannerin which the weight is suspended from the'rope and attached to the pendulum; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a bridge. The same reference characters will be used to designate the same 'out the several views.

Numerals 1 and 2 designate two adjacent ties that may project out beyond the rest ofthe ties a short distance. Secured to the upper surface of ties 1 and 2 is a hp): 3 hav ing a cover 4. The bottom 5fof the box is formed by a steel plate having a slot'6 ex tending parallel with the ties and midway between the ties 1 and 2. Passing through the slot and pivotally connected to the bottom 5 at point 7 (Fig. 2) is a bar or pendw lum 8, to the lower end of which a rectangular piece of board 8*, or other equivalent material, is secured. The material of the bottom 5 is bent upwardly along the slot on one side of the pendulum and the edges of this material is toothed, as indicated by numeral 9. A pawl 10 is pivoted to the bar 8 at some distance above the bottom 5 and has its free end resting on the parts throughlower end of the pendulum, it will, of

course, move the pendulum and thereby operate the. semaphore, by means which I will now describe.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that I have secured to the upper end of the bar 8 a rod which passes out through an opening in cover t I and extends into a switch box 12. The free end of rod 11 has a downwardly projecting hook 13. Within box 12 I-mount' a switch base ll'carrying an ordinary knife switch 15, which is pivoted at the lower end. of the blades. When the switch is in closed position, the hook. 13: projects downwardly be; yond the upper. end: of the switch. When the pendulumjs moved 1 downwardly by the action of the current, the rod. 11{ will move towardsthe-left andthe hook 13 will open the switch, which remains in dotted line or openpo sition until some authorized person opens the normally lockedbox 12 and closes the switch. A semaphore 16 which stands at. Clear as long as the electric current, represented by wiresl'Z, isclosed, moves to danger or stop position as soon.as-switch 15 is opened. From-the above description, it will be apparent that I have provided means that will cause a semaphore'tomove to danger or stop position whenever the water level reaches or exceeds a predeter mined level. and that afterjthe signal has been set, itv cannot be. cleared except by some authorized person, who is provided with-:the propfer key for opening b0ic12.

In case the bridge should. burn, the creosoted rope 18, whichissecured at its ends to. the" bridgestructure and extends the entire length thereof, willbe, severed-by the action of the fire. A weight 19 has attached thereto a steel cable 20 whose upper end is securedtb av ring 21 through which the-rope 18 passes. The weight is thereforesupported by rope 18 in such a-manner that if therope breaks. at. any point, .the weight will fall. A secon'd'cablea 221 has one; end connected to weight 19 and the other to the lower end of the pendulum and passes over a pulley23 which" is secured to the bridge structure. When rope 18 breaks, as it will when the bridge burns, the weight will fall and operate, the signal in the same manner as it would beoperated by high water. I have describedmy signal as operating in conjunction withaii electrically controlled semaphore, but it is evident. that mechanical means I can be employedfor operating the same if electrical energy is not available.

Although I have shown and described a certain switch mechanism and means for opening the same, I want it understood that this is merely given as an example and is not to be considered as limiting the invention in any way. Instead of. the switch mechanism describerhit is obviouszthat'other equivalent intrumentalities might be subfstituted therefor.

Having. now described my invention,- what I claimas new is:

1. In combination a bridge, a pendulum suspended therefrom, a. switch, means: for opening said switch. when. the. pendulum movesv out of: plumb in one direction, and means for moving said pendulum. out; of plumb incase the bridge is. damagedby fire.

2. In combination a bridge, a pendulum suspended: therefrom, a switch, means} fdr opening said switch when. the; pendulum movesout of plumb in one direction, means for moving said pendulum out. of plumb, in case the bridgev is damaged: by fire, said means comprising a weight, meansifor con: necting the weightto the pendulumin s uch a manner that itwill. move the pendulum when allowed to fall, and icombustiblemeans for. supporting said weight.

3. In combination a, bridgepa pivotally attachedthereto, the: lower end; of pendulum projecting downwardly, below the bridge, a. normally. closed switch, means connected tothe pendulum. for: open: ing. said. switch whenthependulum movesin one direction, andmeans to prevent. the. pen.- dulum from returning to vertical position until manually released. I

In testimony whereof I aflix. signature.

JO SEPHTGROSS. 

